Unicomp Black Friday Cyber Monday New Product?!? HYPE!!!!

[spremino]

I'm happy that Unicomp -- a small company in a niche market -- is going to issue something new, but I understand their limits and thus I'm not setting my expectations high. Also, it wouldn't have made sense to invest much into developing a whole new product without inquiring potential customers first.

I wish their news were "We have hired a sharp marketing guy" because lack of promotion is the greatest weakness of Unicomp. I have navigated their website recently and I couldn't figure out things quickly. For instance, what's the difference between the Ultra Classic and the Spacesaver M? The latter targets Apple users... why didn't they call it "Ultra Classic for Mac" or something like that? What makes the EnduraPro special? Its trackpoint, but that's not said anywhere; you have to magnify the picture to see it. This is just the website. For marketing, AFAIK Unicomp relies on word of mouth alone.

[Latin00032]

I'm happy that Unicomp -- a small company in a niche market -- is going to issue something new, but I understand their limits and thus I'm not setting my expectations high. Also, it wouldn't have made sense to invest much into developing a whole new product without inquiring potential customers first.

I wish their news were "We have hired a sharp marketing guy" because lack of promotion is the greatest weakness of Unicomp. I have navigated their website recently and I couldn't figure out things quickly. For instance, what's the difference between the Ultra Classic and the Spacesaver M? The latter targets Apple users... why didn't they call it "Ultra Classic for Mac" or something like that? What makes the EnduraPro special? Its trackpoint, but that's not said anywhere; you have to magnify the picture to see it. This is just the website. For marketing, AFAIK Unicomp relies on word of mouth alone.

Yeah!

Their website is bare-minimum.

They don't describe what each product is.

[rowdy]

I'm happy that Unicomp -- a small company in a niche market -- is going to issue something new, but I understand their limits and thus I'm not setting my expectations high. Also, it wouldn't have made sense to invest much into developing a whole new product without inquiring potential customers first.

I wish their news were "We have hired a sharp marketing guy" because lack of promotion is the greatest weakness of Unicomp. I have navigated their website recently and I couldn't figure out things quickly. For instance, what's the difference between the Ultra Classic and the Spacesaver M? The latter targets Apple users... why didn't they call it "Ultra Classic for Mac" or something like that? What makes the EnduraPro special? Its trackpoint, but that's not said anywhere; you have to magnify the picture to see it. This is just the website. For marketing, AFAIK Unicomp relies on word of mouth alone.

Yeah!

Their website is bare-minimum.

They don't describe what each product is.

But then people who want a BS keyboard probably know exactly what they want and where to get it.

[spremino]

But then people who want a BS keyboard probably know exactly what they want and where to get it.

Er... Not everybody is born a Geek Hacker My memory could be deceiving me, but I had an easier time in browsing their old website as a novice that I have had with their new one now. Their new website doesn't even make apparent that layouts for different languages are available. Wait a moment! Are they still available?

Their current "Parts, Covers, and Services" section is empty! Why don't they mention that they sell blank sets, for instance? Now that I think about it, a blank Unicomp could be a new proposition. The Unicomp Otaku! Maybe that's what they are going to unveil on Black Friday?

If I were a web developer, I would offer them to redesign their website at a discounted rate to help their business, which I wish to last. Heck! I could even accept to be paid in keyboards.

[rowdy]

But then people who want a BS keyboard probably know exactly what they want and where to get it.

Er... Not everybody is born a Geek Hacker My memory could be deceiving me, but I had an easier time in browsing their old website as a novice that I have had with their new one now. Their new website doesn't even make apparent that layouts for different languages are available. Wait a moment! Are they still available?

Their current "Parts, Covers, and Services" section is empty! Why don't they mention that they sell blank sets, for instance? Now that I think about it, a blank Unicomp could be a new proposition. The Unicomp Otaku! Maybe that's what they are going to unveil on Black Friday?

If I were a web developer, I would offer them to redesign their website at a discounted rate to help their business, which I wish to last. Heck! I could even accept to be paid in keyboards.

You must admit, though, that they are catering for a fairly limited segment of the keyboard market.  And most people who want a copy of a 30 year old keyboard design would probably know what they were getting themselves into and where to get it from.

[spremino]

You must admit, though, that they are catering for a fairly limited segment of the keyboard market.  And most people who want a copy of a 30 year old keyboard design would probably know what they were getting themselves into and where to get it from.

My experience has been different. If I were to buy today from Unicomp, maybe I wouldn't because I wouldn't be able find what I was seeking (Italian layout). Rowdy, you have been cursed by your knowledge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_knowledge

[rowdy]

You must admit, though, that they are catering for a fairly limited segment of the keyboard market.  And most people who want a copy of a 30 year old keyboard design would probably know what they were getting themselves into and where to get it from.

My experience has been different. If I were to buy today from Unicomp, maybe I wouldn't because I wouldn't be able find what I was seeking (Italian layout). Rowdy, you have been cursed by your knowledge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_knowledge

Sometimes I do, yes )

But considering if the average person wanted a "special" keyboard, they would either visit their local computer retailer, or perhaps look online.  Such places would promote and advertise flashy "gaming" keyboards, like the BlackWidow, and most people would stop looking there (probably with a purchase).

For those who dig deeper, and discover the different switches, eventually they will encounter an IBM Model M, or perhaps they used one back in the day.

Then the search will widen, Geekhack will appear more and more often in search results, and eventually they will discover Unicomp.